je pus

I was able to

→ je

phrase Rare #43,810

I was able to Past historic tense of pouvoir; used in written or literary French. In everyday speech, French usually uses je pouvais or j'ai pu instead.

FR: Je pus enfin voir la mer au loin.

EN: I was finally able to see the sea in the distance.

Je pus tout entendre.

I could hear everything.

Je pus à peine contenir mon excitation.

I could hardly contain my excitement.

Je courus aussi vite que je pus pour attraper le train.

I ran as fast as I could to catch the train.

Je fis tout ce que je pus.

I did all I could.